About Us

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Women in Engineering (WIE) Winnipeg Affinity Group was formed to serve the local community by promoting the Scopes of Interest of IEEE WIE. In order to achieve this, the group has organized many professional, educational and social events. To learn more about these, please see our events page.

IEEE WIE Winnipeg was officially approved by IEEE Headquarters in Piscataway, New Jersey on June 1, 2004. By September 29, 2004, the WIE group held its kick off event, the first in the Life Perspectives Lecture Series, that featured a panel discussion headlined by Dr. Barbara Sherriff. For its efforts and the numerous activities that were organized in its first year, IEEE WIE Winnipeg received the 2004 IEEE WIE Affinity Group of the Year Award.

The membership of IEEE WIE Winnipeg is made up of a group of volunteers interested in issues related to Women in Engineering, who work as a team to organize events for the benefit of its members and the local community. Special thanks go to the members who have volunteered their time to plan and execute different activities.

About WIE and IEEE

IEEE WIE Winnipeg is part of the non-profit association, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. The IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization, with over 360,000 individual members in more than 150 countries. Built from predecessor societies founded by Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, the IEEE is dedicated to fostering technological innovation, enabling members careers and promoting the technical community worldwide.

IEEE established a Women in Engineering Committee in 1994, and world wide WIE regional affinity group membership started in 2001. WIE membership is open to everyone, and since that time, membership has grown rapidly. IEEE Women in Engineering recognizes the achievements of women in electrical and electronics and related fields through IEEE Awards and encourages women to consider engineering as a viable career. Recently, IEEE WIE was praised by the United Nations for IEEE's efforts in involving girls in technology, recognizing their activities in National Engineering Week’s Introduce a Girl to Engineering day, in helping to make it an international event.

Interested in Getting Involved?

If you would like to get involved, either by joining the executive committee and helping to organize events, or simply to be made aware of future IEEE WIE Winnipeg events, please e-mail the current Chair, Lesley McFarlane, at Lesley.McFarlane@mtsallstream.com for more information.

    WIE Scopes of Interest

  1. Facilitate the development of programs and activities that promote the entry into and retention of women in engineering programs.
  2. Promote IEEE membership and retention of IEEE women members.
  3. Enhance the career advancement of women in the profession.